Modernism Under Fire: A Critical Reading of Soviet Architectural Legacy in Ukraine

Architectural Excavation in Post-Soviet States

In recent years, a striking phenomenon has emerged within architectural and cultural circles: a growing interest in the architectural excavation of countries that were once part of the Soviet Union, particularly those that house distinctive examples of Soviet Brutalist architecture. This interest has not appeared in a vacuum, but rather coincides with a global wave of re-evaluating Brutalism as a legitimate architectural genre in its own right.

The Authenticity of Brutalism in Eastern Europe

Unlike what occurred in many Western countries, Eastern European architecture has displayed a more authentic and independent character, free from the typical architectural nostalgia. This is partly due to the continued use of many of these buildings to this day, as they still retain their majestic features and meticulously designed grandeur, despite the political and social transformations the region has undergone.

A Shifted Image in the West

On the other hand, the image of Western Brutalist architecture has undergone a rapid transformation in just a single decade. Once treated as a hidden aesthetic sin, it suddenly became a trendy subject consumed across social media posts, printed on tea towels, and featured in limited-edition artworks. This aesthetic shift largely overlooked the original purpose of this architecture, which was to provide public services and embody social aspirations that were once considered integral to its mission.

The Legacy of Ukrainian Modernism in the 20th Century Context

Twentieth-century architecture in Ukraine represents a significant facet of the country’s cultural and political history, with its modernist designs reflecting major social and architectural transformations that unfolded through successive phases of domination and the ongoing quest for identity.

A Closer Look at a Book Documenting a Threatened Heritage

Ukrainian Modernism, a book compiled by architectural guide Dmytro Soloviov, offers a meticulous and richly illustrated documentation of this vibrant legacy, which for many years remained on the fringes of academic and cultural interest. Through its images and analytical texts, the book aims to shed light on an architectural style long overlooked, one that now faces an existential threat due to the ongoing war in the country.

Between Aesthetics and Politics

What sets this study apart is its focus on the intricate relationship between architectural beauty and political history. As presented in the book, Ukrainian Modernism cannot be separated from the turbulent political context in which it was born, nor from the contemporary consequences that now endanger its continued existence on the ground.

Dual Threats to Architectural Heritage

In the book’s introduction, author Owen Hatherley points out that the threat facing Ukraine’s modernist architecture is not solely a consequence of war. In addition to Russian drones that place both civilians and architectural landmarks under direct threat, there is another, more insidious danger, greedy market forces.

These forces, active long before the invasion, often view such buildings as burdens with no practical value, especially as they symbolize a bygone era of the welfare state. As a result, these landmarks face demolition or neglect, not only due to warfare, but also under the pressure of an investment-driven logic that recognizes neither cultural nor historical worth unless it can be translated into financial profit.

The Challenge of Aesthetic Reflection Amid a Threatened Reality

Given the ongoing threats surrounding Ukraine’s modernist architecture, it may not be easy to receive this photographic work purely as an aesthetic study. The heavy political and humanitarian context casts a long shadow over the experience of browsing and contemplation.

Nevertheless, Dmytro Soloviov’s lens reveals a highly attuned visual sensitivity in documenting these buildings. He not only highlights their monumental scale and structural power but also deliberately captures the marks of time and decay beginning to settle upon them, adding a layer of melancholy and introspection.

Even so, his clear focus on craftsmanship, design precision, and handmade artistic detail restores appreciation for aesthetic qualities often overlooked in discussions of this architectural style. This approach invites us to see these structures not merely as aging concrete relics, but as distinctive works of architectural art.

The Mosaics of Modernism and Its Liberation from the Market

One of the most recurring features in Ukrainian modernist architecture is a clear passion for mosaics, whether in abstract or heroic forms. These works are not merely decorative; they reflect deeply rooted symbolic and cultural visions shaped by their historical context.

In buildings like the “Wedding Palace” in Chernihiv, built in the 1980s, this dynamic is vividly apparent. Architecture here does not submit to the dictates of the free market; rather, it evolves within an independent creative space, giving it a unique character that is difficult to replicate in a purely commercial environment.

This freedom from neoliberal economic pressures allowed modernism to express its latent potential more authentically, where aesthetic details are treated not as luxuries but as integral elements of architectural identity.

An Architectural Archive Between Memory and Survival

For digital explorers and those drawn to the strange and unfamiliar facets of architecture, Ukrainian Modernism offers a rich gateway to uncovering the layered architectural history of Ukraine. By documenting over 120 architectural projects, the book grants readers a rare opportunity to view this heritage through both an analytical and inquisitive lens.

Although there is hope that these buildings might survive and regain some of their former presence, the heavy burden of war and Ukraine’s complex political history makes it difficult to imagine a fully restored emotional connection to these structures, structures that clearly remain as lingering remnants of Soviet rule.

Only time will tell whether this architecture will be reinterpreted as artistic and historical legacy, or remain a symbol of a bygone era that no longer resonates with the collective memory.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

When reading Ukrainian Modernism, it’s easy to be captivated by its visual richness and the cultural message it seeks to convey. The book documents a marginalized architectural phase and reclaims buildings that were long reduced to a single political narrative. From this perspective, it stands as a valuable contribution to the archiving of architectural memory and the exploration of forgotten urban identities.

However, one cannot ignore the fact that many of these structures also served as symbolic tools of authoritarian regimes, and as expressions of centralized state power during repressive periods. Reviving them without critically addressing the political context in which they were born risks reproducing that narrative through a purely aesthetic or romantic lens.

Moreover, while the book’s emphasis on visual uniqueness and architectural beauty is important, it may overlook some of the social challenges tied to this style, such as the limited usability of space, the exclusion of the human element from design considerations, or even the public aversion to these buildings in certain cities.

Therefore, engaging with Ukrainian Modernism might best be seen as a dual invitation: to understand architecture as both a visual and urban history, while maintaining a critical perspective that refuses to separate form from context, or beauty from power.

Prepared by the ArchUp Editorial Team

Don’t miss the chance to explore more from Architectural News in fields like Design and Projects on the ArchUp website.